Blue Reef / Debbie II (Wreck) - Aruba Leeward Coast

Forget the 'ladies' pool' vibe from the site description, Eagle Paradise is much more than a training ground. We love it for its unexpected encounters, especially the cowries. Seriously, we’ve found Prickly Spotted Drupes and Snakehead Cowries here, tucked into crevices you might otherwise swim right past. The site maxes out at 23 metres, but the best stuff, particularly for macro enthusiasts, sits around the 10-15 metre mark. The reef here isn’t a grand wall, it’s more a collection of scattered blocks and bommies, which makes for some excellent hide-and-seek. Visibility averages 14 metres, which is decent enough for spotting the Blackspot Surgeonfish darting through the water. Our favourite time to dive it is mid-morning, just after the sun gets high enough to really illuminate the smaller cracks where those Leopard Cones often lurk. There's a gentle slope, perfect for just drifting along and scanning the sandy patches for Humpbacked Conchs. It’s a comfortable dive, not challenging, and suits anyone who enjoys taking their time to search for the small, interesting things. Keep an eye out for the Peacock-tail Anemone Shrimp – they’re surprisingly common here if you know where to look.

Location: Aruba Leeward Coast, Aruba, Caribbean
Coordinates: 12.599800, -70.054100
Type: wreck

Marine Protected Area: Westpunt

Best Time to Dive in Aruba Leeward Coast

The warmest water temperatures in Aruba Leeward Coast occur in January, averaging 27.7°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.7°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

January: 27.7°C (air: 26.7°C)
February: 27.7°C (air: 26.5°C)
March: 27.7°C (air: 26.8°C)
April: 27.7°C (air: 27.5°C)
May: 27.7°C (air: 28.0°C)
June: 27.7°C (air: 28.4°C)
July: 27.7°C (air: 28.4°C)
August: 27.7°C (air: 28.9°C)
September: 27.7°C (air: 29.5°C)
October: 27.7°C (air: 29.0°C)
November: 27.7°C (air: 27.7°C)
December: 27.7°C (air: 27.4°C)

Nearest Dive Centres to Blue Reef / Debbie II (Wreck)

Marine Life in Aruba Leeward Coast

Home to 92 recorded species including 55 reef fish, 7 sea snails & nudibranchs, 7 hard corals, 6 crabs & lobsters, 4 other, 4 seagrass & algae.

Notable Species

Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
Bay Whiff (Citharichthys spilopterus) - Reef Fish
loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
killer alga (Caulerpa taxifolia) - Seagrass & Algae
Yellowline Arrow Crab (Stenorhynchus seticornis) - Crabs & Lobsters
Hieroglyphic Cone (Conus hieroglyphus) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
Elegant Brittle Star (Ophiolepis elegans)
Sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca) - Seagrass & Algae
West Indian Alphabet Cone (Conus spurius) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
Orca (Orcinus orca) - Whales & Dolphins
Blackspot Grenadier (Coelorinchus caelorhincus) - Reef Fish
Atlantic Midshipman (Porichthys plectrodon) - Reef Fish
Common Atlantic Grenadier (Nezumia aequalis) - Reef Fish
Sand Dollar (Clypeaster subdepressus) - Sea Urchins
Pacific Spotted Scorpionfish (Scorpaena plumieri) - Reef Fish
Eyed Flounder (Bothus ocellatus) - Reef Fish
Shortnose batfish (Ogcocephalus nasutus) - Reef Fish
Lesser Starlet Coral (Siderastrea radians) - Hard Corals
Finger Coral (Porites porites) - Hard Corals

Recommended Packing List for Blue Reef / Debbie II (Wreck)

Based on average water temperature of 27.7°C.

Shorty or Rashguard - warm 28°C water needs minimal exposure protection
Mask - essential for every dive
Fins
BCD - buoyancy compensator
Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories